Sample holder



June 12, 1956 w M HARKS SAMPLE HOLDER Original Filed March 21. 1950Fig.1

m w I J a w r a m w u 3 1 BL: 0 J m a W 3 3 m f 7 3 .5 2w! i Fm H l 1 7WALT ER M. HARKS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent SAMPLE HOLDER Walter M. Harks, Fort Wayne,Ind., assignor to Bowser, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation ofIndiana Original application March 21, 1950, Serial No. 150,937,

now Patent No. 2,677,303, dated May 4, 1954. Digigdgetifind thisapplication July 10, 1952, Serial No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) This invention relates to a sample holder for anoil testing device. More specifically, it relates to a sample stickwhich is provided with a suitable sample holding cup which is removablymounted in the stick and which is disposed of after a single use.

An object of the invention is to provide a sample holder which isinexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sample cup which isinexpensive and which can be discarded after a single use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sample cup which willsupport a predetermined quantity of sample in a predetermined locationand store excess sample in a difierent location.

Still another object is to provide a sample cup which will automaticallyform a proper sample for analysis.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of thisspecification and the drawings which are attached hereto, made a parthereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the sample stick.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 ofFigure 1 showing the cavity for receiving the sample cup.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 1showing the cavity for the sample cup and the clearance slots.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the sample cup.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the sample cup taken substantially onthe line 55 of Figure 4.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 150,937,filed March 21, 1950, now Patent Number 2,677,303, for Oil Tester.

The sample holder comprises a sample stick 133 into which is fitted asample cup or container 139.

The stick is preferably a flat wooden paddle having a suitable width andthickness to enter the machine with which it is used.

A hole 135 is formed with its center at a predetermined distance fromthe one end of the stick, preferably on the longitudinal axis thereofand the hole is formed with a counterbore 137 to receive the sample cup.

The hole is bounded by a pair of diametrically opposed projections 185which extend into the counterbore and engage the holder adjacent the cupto support and position it relative to the surfaces of the stick. Thestick is preferably undercut laterally at 187 at each side of the holeso as to not impede or obstruct the rays of light which are passedobliquely through the sample as explained in the Patent Number 2,677,303mentioned above.

The sample container or cup is preferably formed of a relatively thin,transparent, colorless plastic material. It has a circular central cup141 which is of shallow but uniform and predetermined depth. I prefer adepth of inch.

The relatively sharp rim 143 of the cup is connected by a conical web145 to the upwardly curved outer rim Fee 147. This outer rim extendsconsiderably above the level of the rim 143 of the cup and forms achamber to receive excess sample which overflows the rim 143. Thematerial of the cup is preferably somewhat yieldable and the externaldiameter issuch that the cup will be lightly and frictionally held inthe bore 137.

In use, a clean cup is mounted in the bore by pressing it therein. Theoil sample is then deposited in the cup 141, usually from the dip-stickor crankcase depth gauge. The cup is preferably filled to excess so thatthe surplus oil will run over the rim 143 and collect in the low portionformed by the conical portion 145 and the rim 147 Thus the cup will befilled to a predetermined level and the excess will be held well out ofthe range of the hole 137 and slots 187 through which the light from thetesting machine passes.

When the test has been completed, the used cup is discharged from thestick by inserting a pencil or other instrument in the hole from thebottom side of the stick.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structureand arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Accordingly, Applicant does not desire to be limited to thespecific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes ofillustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a. counterbore,a sample holder having a central sample cup and an overflow cupsurrounding it, said overflow cup being of yieldable material andfrictionally disposed in said counterbore and serving to locate said cupand sample in alignment with the bore.

2. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a counterbore, apair of projections disposed to extend into the counterbore on oppositesides of the bore and a sample cup frictionally mounted in thecounterbore, said cup being of yieldable material and having means forsupporting the sample in axial alignment with the bore.

3. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a counterbore, apair of projections disposed to extend into the counterbore on oppositesides of the bore transversely to the longitudinal axis of the stick,and a sample cup mounted in the counterbore, said cup having meansdisposed to engage said counterbore and said projections for supportingthe sample in axial alignment with and in a predetermined positionrelative to the end of the bore.

4. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a counterbore,means defining a channel in the surface of the stick opposite thecounterbore and extending substantially radially from the bore, a samplecup frictionally mounted in the counterbore, said cup having means forsupporting the sample in axial alignment with and in a predeterminedposition relative to the end of the bore.

5. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a counterbore,means defining channels in the surface of the stick opposite thecounterbore and extending substantially radially from the bore andtransversely of the longitudinal axis of the stick, a sample cup mountedin the counterbore, said cup having yieldable, frictional means forsupporting the sample in the counterbore in axial alignment with thebore.

6. In a liquid testing means, a stick having a bore and a counterbore, apair of projections disposed to extend into the counterbore on oppositesides of the bore and being curved to follow the wall of said bore for aportion of its circumference, and a sample cup mounted in thecounterbore, said cup having yieldable means for frictionally supportingthe sample in the counterborc, on said projections and in axialalignment with the bore.

2,015,949 Maw Oct. 1, 1935 4 Jackson May 19, Oliver June 13, RowlandSept. 16, Kavanaugh Dec. 16,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 22,

Great Britain Oct. 12,

1. IN A LIQUID TESTING MEANS, A STICK HAVING A BORE AND A COUNTERBORE, ASAMPLE HOLDER HAVING A CENTRAL SAMPLE CUP AND AN OVERFLOW CUPSURROUNDING IT, SAID OVERFLOW CUP BEING OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL ANDFRICTIONALLY DISPOSED IN SAID COUNTERBORE AND SERVING TO LOCATE SAID CUPAND SAMPLE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BORE.